A new organisation set up to help protect the beautiful Three Peaks has reached its first milestone – its 100th member.

The Friends of the Three Peaks was set up by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to support and raise money towards the maintenance of the footpath network around Whernside, Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough.

It was launched last August by Calendar Girl Angela Baker who became its first member. Since then there has been a steady stream of new recruits with 70-year-old Kevin Macbeth being allotted membership number 100 – with his wife Barbara coming in at 101.

Mr Macbeth, who lives in Rodley, near Leeds, was pleased as punch to hit the centenary.

“We have done the Yorkshire Three Peaks in 12 hours – although it was in 1998 – and we thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said.

“The reason we joined the Friends of the Three Peaks is that we are both members of the Yorkshire Dales Society and it was featured in the magazine.

“We would like to see the footpaths maintained so the younger generations in the future will be able to do the route.

“I think the Three Peaks Project is great – the paths have to be maintained and this encourages people to help look after them.”

Malcolm Petyt, the YDNPA’s Member Champion for Recreation Management, said: “The footpath network covering the Three Peaks receives about 250,000 visitors a year and needs constant attention to keep it good condition.

“For example, so far this year, 19 organisations have let us know they will be using some or all of the Three Peaks to raise money in coming months.

“The Friends are a vital way of raising money that will be ring-fenced just for path maintenance in this iconic area of our beautiful National Park.

Steve Hastie, the Authority’s Three Peaks Project Manager, said: “The Friends are steadily growing in numbers in terms of individuals, businesses and organisations and, hopefully, numbers will rise as our staff and Dales Volunteers get out and about during the summer and our corporate members spread the word.”